Far from being able to sell high on Andruw Jones, his agent Scott Boras will need to find other ways to try and convince teams to take a flyer on the .220-hitting center fielder. There are the not-so-shy comments from Andruw about wanting to remain a Brave, but we've been hearing those since the middle of last season, so I take them as nothing but lip service. Boras may point to Jones' average production and his minimum production over the last decade to make his case. Here is a stat run he will likely use:
Most Consecutive 25-Homerun Seasons
Rank | Player | Consecutive Years | Time Span |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Babe Ruth | 15 | 1919-1933 |
1 | Barry Bonds | 15 | 1990-2004 |
3 | Willie Mays | 13 | 1954-1966 |
4 | Lou Gehrig | 12 | 1927-1938 |
4 | Jimmie Foxx | 12 | 1929-1940 |
4 | Sammy Sosa | 12 | 1993-2004 |
4 | Manny Ramirez | 12* | 1995-2006 |
8 | Eddie Mathews | 11 | 1952-1962 |
8 | Carlos Delgado | 11* | 1996-2006 |
10 | Reggie Jackson | 10 | 1971-1980 |
10 | Jim Thome | 10 | 1995-2004 |
10 | Andruw Jones | 10 | 1998-2007 |
10 | Vladimir Guerrero | 10 | 1998-2007 |
10 | Alex Rodriguez | 10 | 1998-2007 |
*Ramirez has 20 HRs in 2007 & Delgado has 24.
That's impressive company, but I still don't think it will get the big long contract done that they think it will. Baseball is usually a game of "what have you done for me lately." Still, there is speculation out there by several writers that there will be takers for Jones. After the outfield attrition last Sunday in San Diego, at least one writer is thinking there's room for AJ in Petco next year:
The all-knowing Ken Rosenthal is taking the opposite approach to Jones' bad year, thinking that because he may be more affordable, more teams will have interest.
Put it all together -- including the fact that Boras is the agent -- and Jones' return to Atlanta appears unlikely. The Orioles, Nationals or some other team will award him a substantial multi-year deal.
Heck, even the lowly state of Connecticut thinks Andruw is a goner this year.
Good luck in Boston and New York. You're going to need all that luck you can get there because those fans are going to eat you alive.
If Brave fans are lucky the public address announcer next year at Turner Field will be saying "Starting at centerfield: Willie Harris."